CHARGERS: Bolts have work to do at combine

The Chargers are headed to Indianapolis en masse. Almost
everyone on the football side of the organization will attend the
NFL's scouting combine, from coaches to scouts to executives.

The annual convention/cattle call runs from Wednesday through
Feb. 28 at Lucas Oil Stadium, the site of the recent Super Bowl
that the Chargers had no chance to qualify for.

A second straight season in which they finished outside the
playoffs has lent a sense of urgency to the offseason, which has
begun in earnest.

The combine is well-known as a forum to measure the tangible
abilities of top college prospects, analyze them medically, and
interview them in an intimate setting. It's also a meeting spot for
agents and executives, offering a preview of the free agent market.
Chargers chief contract negotiator Ed McGuire is on the trip for
several reasons, one of which is to exchange preliminary dialogue
with representatives of future Chargers.

The Chargers are prepared to deal with all scenarios after a
series of meetings designed to evaluate the roster and assign a
value to their own free agents. Based on those discussions,
receiver Vincent Jackson is considered a high-profile free agent
that the team wants to sign to a long-term contract, multiple
sources confirmed.

It's a virtual certainty that the franchise tag won't be used on
Jackson. That means the open market will have a say in Jackson's
future as a Charger, and it could explode as receiver-hungry teams
vie for Jackson's services.

The Chargers are high on center Nick Hardwick, running back Mike
Tolbert and fullback Jacob Hester, unrestricted free agents who
would ultimately prefer to stay in San Diego.

Several sources have indicated, including a public pronouncement
by president Dean Spanos on the team's web site, that offensive
line remains the Chargers' top priority this offseason. The
Chargers hope that Hardwick, left tackle Marcus McNeill and left
guard Kris Dielman — who contemplated retirement after suffering a
serious concussion last year — return this season, but they are
planning for the worst. McNeill must pass a team physical and prove
that his long-term health is no longer an issue to avoid being
released. If everything checks out, the Chargers will retain him
and pay the $10 million that he's owed.

As much as fans expect a general manager on the hot seat to
change his stripes, that won't happen in this or any other year.
The draft will remain A.J. Smith's chief source of player
acquisition, which makes the scouting efforts at this combine and
beyond vital to the future of the franchise.

The Chargers are typically minor players in free agency, and
they are likely to use it to replenish their depth, which even
Smith criticized at the end of last season. The Chargers, however,
have money to spend. ESPN reported that the the team is an
estimated $9 million under the salary cap and could drop $10
million more by releasing McNeill.

The Chargers need an impact pass rusher, a position of depth in
free agency and the draft. They also need a strong safety, but
those personnel decisions must wait on Jackson, the first domino
expected to fall.